Question Update BIOS or not?

[anandtechreader]

Hi, I got an ASUS motherboard. Teach support suggested me to update the BIOS when I first turn on the machine to use the DDR4 3200 C14 RAM. However, I read some posts that sometimes updating the BIOS break the motherboard. Who should I listen to? Isn't updating the BIOS while the product is still within return period a good strategy?

 

[UsandThem]

If you're not experiencing issues that would be fixed by a newer BIOS, or if the new BIOS version contains security fixes, you probably should leave it at your current version. Why "fix" it if nothing is broken?

Generally the only way a new BIOS "breaks" the motherboard is if the user tries to install the wrong version for their board, or if they are doing the flash within Windows and are unlucky enough for the PC to crash while the write operation is going on. I always do my BIOS updates withing the UEFI because I have always done it that way, and that way I take the Windows aspect out of it.

 

[anandtechreader]

Thanks UsandThem

 

[LTC8K6]

If you bought that ram, and it needs the BIOS update to work, then you'll need to do the update, or get different ram.

 

[RLGL]

Update , yes
DO NOT FLASH THROUGH WINDOWS !
Use a USB stick

 

[Harry_Wild]

Just wait a month or two and then update the BIOS after it is release if you want to be safe. By then the motherboard OEM would have found any problems- with drawn the BIOS upgrade or modified it!

 

[anandtechreader]

I just turned on the DIY machine for the first time. I am using G.Skill Trident Z DDR4-3200 CL14 (16GBx4) RAM. When I turned on the machine for the first time, the ASUS BIOS stated "Total Memoery: 65536MB (DDR4-2133). I went to UEFI BIOS Utility - EZ Mode. The 4 RAM modules were shown to be running at 2133MHz. I enabled X.M.P.

Then, under X.M.P. it states "Enabled XMP DDR4-3200 14-14-14-34-1.35V". I saved the settings and restarted but when UEFI BIOS Utility was shown again, under Information, it stateed "Memory: 65536 MB (DDR4-3200MHz)" but under DRAM Status, the four models were shown to be 2133MHz. So, are they running at 3200 or 2133?

The BIOS gave me conflicting information on the same screen.

 

[UsandThem]

You can look in Windows 10's Task Manager (ctrl-alt-delete, then performance tab, then memory) to see what your RAM is running at.

 

[anandtechreader]

Thanks. It shows

Speed: 3200 MHz
Slots used: 4 of 4
Form factor: DIMM
Hardware reserved: 160MB

So once I have set the BIOS, will the RAM continue to be running at 3200 MHz in both Windows 10 and Linux until I change the RAM settigns in the BIOS again? Know why the BIOS gave conflicting info on the same screen?

 

[UsandThem]

So once I have set the BIOS, will the RAM continue to be running at 3200 MHz in both Windows 10 and Linux until I change the RAM settigns in the BIOS again?

Yes it will.

Know why the BIOS gave conflicting info on the same screen?

Asus doesn't have the easiest to understand BIOS for new-to-intermediate users. They also have a lot more various options in there compared to most motherboard manufacturers, and while experienced users love this, it's a bit of a learning curve for most.

 

[UsandThem]

Another couple of utilities you can use to make sure your speeds are correct, are CPU-Z: https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html and Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (System Information tab): Intel Utility

You can even run stress tests with the Intel utility to test your RAM and CPU, and you can see how your temperatures respond. It also gives you the option to see advanced things like voltage and TDP.

 

[Iron Woode]

Then, under X.M.P. it states "Enabled XMP DDR4-3200 14-14-14-34-1.35V". I saved the settings and restarted but when UEFI BIOS Utility was shown again, under Information, it stateed "Memory: 65536 MB (DDR4-3200MHz)" but under DRAM Status, the four models were shown to be 2133MHz. So, are they running at 3200 or 2133?

The BIOS gave me conflicting information on the same screen.

This is probably why they want you to update the BIOS.

Memory compatibility is one of the reasons they release new BIOSes.

 

[UsandThem]

This is probably why they want you to update the BIOS.

Memory compatibility is one of the reasons they release new BIOSes.

I don't have the system running anymore, but I think the Asus Z97 motherboard I had in my son's last build showed the same thing when it came to XMP.